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The opponents of Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) admitted that he used to be ‘too strong’ on Sunday, the Dutchman driving away to take a dominant victory within the ultimate Global Cup spherical at Hoogerheide.
Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines) used to be left chasing by myself and completed 1:42 at the back of Van der Poel in 2d position. Alternatively, Vanthourenhout used to be probably the most constant rider in all 11 rounds of the Global Cup, successful two early races, and on Sunday secured the sequence identify. However 5 instances Van der Poel raced in Global Cups and inspired with victories in all 5 begins.
“I went to follow him, but it wasn’t possible today,” stated Vanthourenhout. “When he went, I wanted to ride towards him, but you could see straight away that he was much too strong.
“I then rode the entire race in second place, which was also very difficult.”
Belgian Vanthourenhout expects a battle on the terrain to unfold at next week’s World Championships in Liévin, with the field now more than a battle with Van der Poel. The Belgian squad had one open slot in the nine-rider roster and Wout van Aert announced today he would accept that spot.
In the men’s elite lineup to thwart a seventh title for Dutchman Van der Poel, Vanthourenhout and Van Aert will ride with Toon Aerts, Eli Isyerbyt, Thibau Nys, Laurens Sweeck, Niels Vandeputte, Emiel Verstraynge and Joran Wyseure.
From that list, Van Aert has won the elite ‘cross world title three times (2016-2018), and three others have been on the podium – Aerts, Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout.
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“It’ll be a tough cross and that’s the best thing for the World Championship. That’s the most fair,” Vanthourenhout said. “I hope to start with good legs on Sunday, then I can compete for that podium. Today was good and I hope it’s the same next week.”
Meanwhile, former European and Belgium national champion, Iserbyt has enjoyed only one World Cup win this year as he tried to overcome nerve problems in his leg.
The Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines rider said that pain while running uphill meant he missed the battle for third place at Hoogerheide, finishing 2:33 down in sixth place, behind fellow Belgians Aerts and Wyseure.
“I had a little trouble with my leg. After 25 minutes it became better, but the running part was a bit too hard for me. I went over the top and felt that I had to slow my rhythm a bit,” he said.
“That stretch of running uphill I felt it coming. Running uphill is always a weak point. The flat runs work, but I did see in the second half that the pace was definitely there.
“Muddy courses are a bit of a drama for me at the moment.”
Aerts and Wyseure completed 2d and 3rd, respectively, within the Global Cup standings, the duo separated by means of 36 issues, giving Belgian riders a podium sweep, one thing they hope to perform in Liévin.
4-time Global Championship medallist Lars van der Haar, who finished the boys’s podium in Hoogerheide for his Baloise Glowi Lions crew, stated that if the stipulations are identical for Sunday’s Global Championships, then the techniques must ‘really easy’ towards the Belgians.
“Michael [Vanthourenhout] went at a really good moment so I really couldn’t follow him and then I just decided to wait until the final two laps to try an all or nothing. It was a race where you just had to focus on yourself and in that group [fighting for third], I had a little bit left in the tank,” he added.
“If the World Championship is like this and muddy, then the tactics are going to be really easy. If it’s fast, then it gets more tactical.”
